Lagging and Insulation

• Main Engine, Auxiliary Engines, Boiler of ship when they run they produce heat.
• Fuel oil, Lubricating oil are heated for use in the engines and purification purpose respectively.
• Hot fresh water is supplied to the cabins are for domestic and other use.
• In all these cases machineries and pipelines are needed to be insulated to prevent heat
transfer.
• Lagging: insulating material wrapped around pipes, boilers, or tanks to prevent loss of heat
• To prevent loss of heat
• Insulating material (poor conductor of heat - compare steel vs wood or cotton material)
• Insulating material - Any material that can resist flow of heat, is safe for use, and is fire
resistant.
• Examples: Glass wool, rock wool, shredded paper, synthetic substances (foam),plaster ofparis,
cement bricks, etc. (Asbestos, though a very good and cheap material has harmful effects on
health and its use has been banned altogether.)
• In Ships the lagging and insulation of pipes are widely used to prevent
wastage of Heat / Cold.
• For example all the fuels used for combustion do not convert 100% of
heat energy into Mechanical energy for running the ship or producing
electricity. Certain amount of heat energy is carried with exhaust gas
from the engine, through the exhaust pipes. If the exhaust pipes are
not insulated, this heat energy will be wasted, which will also make
the engine room very hot. Any oil spill on the uninsulated exhaust
pipe will result in Fire. Hence the exhaust pipes have to be properly
insulated. This will help in using the heat energy to run the
turbocharger and the exhaust gas boiler to get the hot water/ steam.
• where used? Around pipes, boiler, hot filters, around tanks and in refrigerated compartments,
partitions, etc.
• It usually comes in the form of a fibrous material that can be stuffed in a
• water / heat resistant cloth which can be wrapped around pipes and kept in place by clips,
wires, or metal casing.
There are plenty of cheap and common insulation materials available
on the market today. Normally the following are considered when
comparing them.
• Thermal resistivity,
• Flammability,
• Sound insulation,
• Ease of handling,
• Environmental impact,
• Price.
Fiberglass is the most common insulation used in modern times. The main downside of fiberglass is the danger of handling it.
Since fiberglass is made out of finely woven silicon, glass powder and tiny shards of glass are formed. These can cause damage to
the eyes, lungs, and even skin if the proper safety equipment isn’t worn. Be sure to use eye protection, masks, and gloves when
handling this product
Mineral wool can be purchased as a loose material. Most mineral wool does not have additives to make it fire
resistant, making it poor for use in situation where extreme heat is present. However, it is not combustible. When
used in conjunction with other, more fire resistant forms of insulation, mineral wool can definitely be an effective
way of insulating large areas
Cellulose insulation is perhaps one of the most eco-friendly forms of insulation. Cellulose is made from recycled
cardboard, paper, and other similar materials and comes in loose form. Because of the compactness of the
material, cellulose contains next to no oxygen within it. Without oxygen within the material, this helps to minimize
the amount of damage that a fire can cause. However, there are certain downsides to this material as well, such as
the allergies that some people may have to newspaper dust. Also, finding individuals skilled in using this type of
nsulation is relatively hard compared to, say, fiberglass. Still, cellulose is a cheap and effective means of insulating.
Polyurethane foam - While not the most abundant of insulations, polyurethane foams are an excellent form of
insulation. Nowadays, polyurethane foams use nonchlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gas for use as a blowing agent. This
helps to decrease the amount of damage to the ozone layer. They are relatively light, There are also low density
foams that can be sprayed into areas that have no insulation. Another advantage of this type of insulation is that
it is fire resistant.
Other commonly used insulation -
Recently, materials like aerogel (used by NASA for the construction of
heat resistant tiles, capable of withstanding heat up to approximately
1800*C with little or no heat transfer), have become affordable and
available. One in particular is Pyrogel XT. Pyrogel is one of the most
efficient industrial insulations in the world. Its required thicknesses are
50% – 80% less than other insulation materials. Although a little more
expensive than some of the other insulation materials, Pyrogel is being
used more and more for specific applications.
Asbestos - Previously used on board but not used anymore due to the hazard
for the health and has been banned
while working with insulating material such as glass
wool, you must protect your body, use gloves and
goggles. While handling any powdery material, use
face mask.
Good practice: while dismantling pipes, or equipment that is
insulated, take care in removing the tagging and putting it
back after completing the work-
For personal use: you can easily relate insulating material as
woolen garments, blankets, quilt, and synthetic material
(Thermal protective aid - TPA)'
There is another kind of insulation - electrical insulation -
preventing flow of electricity.
In short
• Aerogel is more expensive, but definitely the best type of insulation.
• Fiberglass is cheap, but requires careful handling.
• Mineral wool is effective, but not fire resistant.
• Cellulose is fire resistant, eco-friendly, and effective, but hard to apply.
• Polyurethane is an all around good insulation product, though not particularly eco-friendly.
• Polystyrene is a diverse insulation material, but its safety is debated.
• Other considerations while choosing the insulation / lagging material are
• Easy installation/removal
• No special tools
• Works with flexible pipe
• Adaptable length
• Connect cables/sensors
• Insulation thickness
• Easy to keep clean
• Professional look
• It’s difficult to make the decision between purchasing hot or cold removable insulation materials
without a good study. Both forms of insulation materials are going to save money in the end, but it is
vital to determine which is the most practical and cost effective for your piping system.
• Just like hot insulation materials, some of the materials used to produce cold
insulation vary dependent upon the system of pipes they are insulating.
• Therefore, the materials used in either hot or cold insulation are dependent on
the customization of the particular piping system. Two common materials used in
cold insulation are:
• Polyurethane Foam: Perfect for handling low thermal conductivity and
substances with below freezing temperatures. Polyurethane foam also allows for
low smoke emission and low water vapour permeability.
• Rubber Foam: Rubber foam is also often recommended for condensation control
as the closed cell technology is highly resistant to moisture vapour.
• With chilled insulation, keeping the cold in is as important as keeping the heat
out. There are many types of insulation used on chilled pipes. The two most
popular are foam glass and rubber insulation or Armaflex. Although a little more
difficult to work with than pre molded fiberglass, when installed correctly, these
materials do a great job of stopping condensation and preventing energy loss.